Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Henri Ikonen skated for SapKo’s U20 and U18 teams in his hometown of Savolinna and put up 33 points in eight games with SaPKo’s U16 (C Juniors) team. Ikonen played in 14 games for SaPKo U20, which finished last in its region, and scored 13 goals with 8 assists and 8 penalty minutes. In four games of relegation play, he scored 3 goals with 4 penalty minutes. In five games with SaPKo U18 he scored 6 goals with 4 assists and had 12 penalty minutes. The fifteen-year-old was dominant against players his own age at the second division level, scoring 20 goals with 13 assists for SaPKo U16.

2010-11: Ikonen moved up to the top level of Finnish junior hockey, playing for KalPa in Kuopio, and skated for Finland at the 2011 U17 World Hockey Challenge. In 26 games with KalPa’s U20 squad he scored 7 goals with 10 assists and was an even plus/minus on a team that finished 14th out of 15 teams. In the relegation playoffs, Ikonen scored 2 goals with 3 assists and was plus-five as KalPa successfully retained its spot in the top league. He played 10 games with KalPa U18 (including four playoff games) and scored 6 goals with 7 assists and 16 penalty minutes. In four games for Finland at the WHC he scored 1 goal with 3 assists and had 2 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Ikonen made his SM-Liiga debut for KalPa, was the KalPa U20 team’s second leading scorer and represented Finland in the 2012 U18 World Junior Championship. In eight SM-Liiga games he had 1 assist and was minus-one with 4 penalty minutes; averaging nine minutes of ice time. In 37 games for KalPa’s U20 team, he scored 17 goals with 28 assists and was plus-12 with 18 penalty minutes. In nine playoff games he scored 8 goals with 6 assists and was plus-five with 2 penalty minutes. KalPa reached the U20 bronze medal game. Ikonen played six games with KalPa’s U18 team during the qualifying phase of the season and scored 6 goals with 9 assists. In seven games for fourth-place Finland at the U18 WJC he scored 2 goals and was plus-three with 4 penalty minutes. Ikonen was ranked 22nd amongst European skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft but was passed over in this draft.

2012-13: Ikonen was selected by Kingston in the second round (66th overall) of the 2012 CHL Import Draft and moved to North America to play in the OHL. Ikonen was the Frontenacs’ leading scorer, finishing the year with 22 goals and 29 assists in 61 games and was plus-two with 30 penalty minutes. Kingston reached the OHL playoffs despite finishing under .500 and was swept by Barrie in the opening round. Ikonen scored 1 goal and was minus-nine with 4 penalty minutes. He was with Finland’s U20 team prior to the 2013 World Junior Championships, skating in three games, but was cut before the tournament. Ikonen was ranked 180th amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings and was selected by Tampa Bay in the sixth round (154th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft.

2013-14: Ikonen signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Lightning in April 2014 following his second season with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs and made his pro debut with Tampa Bay AHL affiliate Syracuse. He played for Finland’s gold medal-winning U20 team at the 2014 World Junior Championship in Sweden. Ikonen had 2 assists and was -4 with 2 penalty minutes in six AHL games. He was the second-leading scorer for Kingston behind 2014 1st round pick Sam Bennett. Ikonen scored 25 goals with 45 assists and was +17 with 49 penalty minutes in 54 regular season games. The Frontenacs finished second in the East Division, falling to third-place Peterborough in a seven-game playoff series. Ikonen scored 1 goal with 5 assists and was +2 with 8 penalty minutes in the series against the Petes. He scored 1 goal with 2 assists and had an even plus/minus with 2 penalty minutes in seven games at the WJC. Finland defeated Sweden, 3-2, in overtime in the gold medal game.

2014-15: Ikonen had the fits and starts not uncommon for a 20-year-old in his first AHL season skating for Tampa Bay affiliate Syracuse. Missing time due to injury and a healthy scratch at times, he scored 5 goals with 8 assists and was +8 with 43 penalty minutes in 59 regular season games. The Crunch finished second behind Hartford in the re-aligned East Division, and were swept by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a best-of-five first round playoff series. Ikonen was -2 with no points nor penalties in three playoff games.

Talent Analysis

Ikonen, no relation to current JyP forward Juuso Ikonen, with whom he played on the Finland U18 and U20 teams, has the size and physical demeanor to play a sound two-way game. He is adept at setting up plays and creating opportunities for his linemates. He proved durable enough to play a North American-style game while skating for the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs. Offensively, Ikonen is not a pure goal scorer but he can occasionally contribute on the scoresheet.

Future

Ikonen had a challenging first season of pro hockey skating for Tampa Bay AHL affiliate Syracuse in 2014-15. He will compete for a spot with the Lightning in training camp but most likely will be back with the Crunch next season. One of the younger players in the AHL last season, he is expected to make significant progress having gained a year's experience. He is still developing physically and honing his tactical skills and projects long-term as a sound two-way forward capable of playing in all situations.

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